Gemotions

Marcus sat at his desk, watching the snow fall gently outside his window. A mug of hot chocolate sat beside him, the steam rising and filling the air with the sweet scent of cocoa. He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table, a habit he did when he was in a state of tranquil contemplation. He had taken a sabbatical from his work and this moment, watching the snow, was a perfect ending to his day. He felt a sense of calm.

His phone buzzed. He picked it up and saw an email from an online magazine. The subject line was “Congratulations! Your article is now live!” He smiled. This was great news, at last.

But when he saw the byline, his smile vanished. “By, Laura Smith.” He felt a jolt. His fingers stilled, and his breath caught. He reread the name again, his face paling.